Janna Chernetz, director of New Jersey policy for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said this week's delays have "painfully illustrated" just how important a fully-functioning, healthy public transportation system is for New Jersey and the region. And she couldn't imagine "a better wake-up call" for those in charge.

"We need to have robust bus options, robust rail options. Not one mode can absorb the other, as we can see," Chernetz said.

She also pointed to an outdated, inefficient Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC.

But the overall fix, she said, can't ignore the smaller picture. Every car that's off the road can improve others' commutes, so if folks have more opportunities to walk or ride their bike to work, instead of driving a few miles, that puts a dent in the congestion on New Jersey's roads.

Chernetz noted building more roads, or widening them, isn't a realistic option for New Jersey; we're crowded enough as is.

Williams said many commuters are "unaware that New Jersey has an incomplete infrastructure" dotted with missing links and proposed sections of highway that were never built.

Even a couple accidents in the Newark Airport area of the Turnpike on Wednesday, he said, backed up drivers for tens of miles.